Design of YCF-1 mobile γ irradiator

YCF-1 Mobile irradiator is designed by BINE of China. It has been put into running in YanJi city of Jilin province. It is able to be moved to border and distance places and area lumped and spreading out of agricultural products to service. It can play a important role in demonstration and extending irradiation technology in food irradiation, disinfestation, sterilization and quarantine, etc. This paper describes the features and design considerations of mobile irradiator.This irradiator adopted Cesium-137 source. The design capacity of loading source is 9.25PBq (250kCi), A half-time of Cs- 137 is 30.2 years long, exchanging source is not needed utilization rate of energy is higher, and the shielding is thinner, The Weight is lighter, The dose rate on the surface of it is 0.0025mSv/h in accordance with national standard. The internal size of irradiation room is 1800×1800×900mm (L×W×H), The sheilding of irradiation room is a steel shell filled with lead. The thickness of lead is 18cm. The irradiator is installed on a special flat truck. The size of the truck is 7000×3400×4200mm (L×W×H). The weight of irradiator is more than 80 150kw. The main components and parts of irradiator are: source, source racks and hoist, irradiation chamber, storage source chamber, the product's transport system, dose monitoring system, ventilation system and safety interlock system, etc.     

Preliminary results of a small X-ray irradiator for equivalent dose estimation

In most established method for luminescence dating, the ratio of ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y radionuclides has been employed to provide reference laboratory doses to sample. Recently a small X-ray irradiator (Varian VF-50J) was introduced as an alternative to the traditionally used radioactive sources. Test results are presented whether the use of the small X-ray irradiator is possible in the dating technique. Aspects of the assessment of the X-ray irradiator include consideration of the measured optically stimulated luminescence signal and the relationship between X-ray tube currents and dose rates, as well as the dependence of equivalent dose for various dose rates. The test performances are assessed in relation to use with heated quartz.     

Design considerations for a neutron generator-based total-body irradiator

Summary The prompt- and delayed-gamma neutron activation techniques have been used for the non-invasive measurement of human body composition. In recent years, neutron irradiators have used only transuranic isotopic sources (^{238PuBe, 241}AmBe, ²⁵²Cf). However, in today’s security-minded environment, the use of alternate neutron sources may provide some advantages. We have examined several designs for an irradiator that would use a high-output, miniature D-T neutron generator (MF Physics). The use of this type of neutron source will lessen the storage, security, and transport issues associated with continuous-output isotopic neutron sources. To determine the scientific impact of this decision, we have performed Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP-4B2; Los Alamos National Laboratory) to aid in the design of the irradiator system, evaluating shielding materials, collimation, and source-to-subject distance, for the measurement of total body nitrogen (TBN). Based on internal flux distributions within the simulated body region of a subject, several design options were identified. The final design will be selected based on the optimization of precision, dose, and exposure time.     

Determination of fluorine in zinc ores using an isotope neutron source based automated neutron activation analysis system

A method has been developed for routine determination of fluorine in zinc sulfide ores by activation with fast neutrons from a 6.6 Ci²²⁷Ac−Be isotope source and counting of the 4.5 to 7 MeV gamma-rays of the product nuclide¹⁶N. Samples and standards consist of pellets pressed from a mixture of powdered material with wax or graphite. Samples and standards alternate in a sequence of 20 seconds irradiation, 4 seconds decay and 20 seconds counting. This analysis sequence, including the computation of the analysis results from the counting data automated by means of a LSI-11 Microprocessor with 12K×16 bit memory. The zinc ores, containing 0.3 to 0.7% fluorine have been analysed with a precision ranging from 1.56 to 1.33% relative. As a test for the reliability of the method, three standard reference materials were analysed in the same way as the zinc ore samples.     

Electrochemical preparation and spectroelectrochemical study of neptunium chloride complexes in LiCl–KCl eutectic melts

Lyoluminescence (LL) is a good technique for radiation dosimetry of high-energy radiations. Dosimetry of γ rays from ⁶⁰Co radioactive source has been done using MgB₄O₇:Mn²⁺ phosphor material. It was synthesized by simple solid state diffusion method. The material shows good linear LL response with the γ rays for the dose rage of 10 Gy–10 kGy. The studies have also been done for different particle sizes (250–45 µm) and particles having average size ~85 µm were found to be the most suitable for this dosimetry. Effect of solvent pH on LL and fading on storage has also been studied.     

Production of high melt strength polypropylene by gamma irradiation

High melt strength polypropylene (HMS-PP) has been recently developed and introduced in the market by the major international producers of polypropylene. Therefore, BRASKEM, the leading Brazilian PP producer, together with EMBRARAD, the leading Brazilian gamma irradiator, and the IPEN (Institute of Nuclear Energy and Research) worked to develop a national technology for the production of HMS-PP. One of the effective approaches to improve melt strength and extensibility is to add chain branches onto polypropylene backbone using gamma radiation. Branching and grafting result from the radical combinations during irradiation process. Crosslinking and main chain scission in the polymer structure are also obtained during this process. In this work, gamma irradiation technique was used to induce chemical changes in commercial polypropylene with two different monomers, Tri-allyl-isocyanurate (TAIC) and Tri-methylolpropane-trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), with concentration ranging from 1.5 to 5.0 mmol/100 g of polypropylene. These samples were irradiated with a ⁶⁰Co source at dose of 20 kGy. It used two different methods of HMS-PP processing. The crosslinking of modified polymers was studied by measuring gel content melt flow rate and rheological properties like melt strength and drawability. It was observed that the reaction method and the monomer type have influenced the properties. However, the concentration variation of monomer has no effect.     

Microemulsion liquid chromatographic method for characterisation of fosinopril sodium and fosinoprilat separation with chemometrical support

The properties of the eluent are the essential factors governing the efficiency in the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. A novel approach in retention modelling in the liquid chromatographic separation of fosinopril sodium and its degradation product, fosinoprilat, applying a microemulsion as the mobile phase, was used. The modifications of the mobile phase included the changes to the type of the lipophilic phase, the type and concentration of co-surfactant and surfactant, as well as the pH of the mobile phase. In this study, a full factorial 2³ design, as the optimal method for screening of the experiment, was applied for selecting factors which had an influence on separation. Optimisation was done by a central composite design. An appropriate resolution with reasonable retention times was obtained with a microemulsion containing 0.9% w/w of cyclohexane, 2.2% w/w of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 8.0% w/w of n-butanol and 88.9% of aqueous 25 mM disodium phosphate, the pH of which was adjusted to 2.8 with 85% orthophosphoric acid. Separations were performed on an X-Terra 50-mm×4.6-mm, 3.5-μm particle size column at 30°C. UV detection was performed at 220 nm and with a flow rate of 0.3 mL min⁻¹. The established method was validated and applied for analysis of appropriate tablets. The proposed chromatographic procedure for the separation of fosinopril sodium and its degradation product is less expensive compared with the conventional reversed-phase HPLC method, as well as being simple and rapid. The optimised and validated method can be used for separation, identification and simultaneous determination of fosinopril sodium and fosinoprilat in bulk drug and in pharmaceutical dose forms.     

Exposure dose assessment and discussion on radioisotope production and application

The exposure dose status on radioisotope production and application in China has been assessed in the paper. The average annual occupational exposure dose received by workers in the radioisotope production is about one tenth of the annual dose limit in normal situation. It is less than one twentieth for workers in the radioisotope applications. However, the annual collective dose for the latter is higher than the former by one oder of magnitude due to the larger number of workers in the application field. Although the output of radioisotopes increased doubly in 1980's as compared with 1970's, the increase on the annual collective dose was not obvious. For exposure to the public,¹³¹I for example, the collective dose in the radioisotope production decreased by one to two orders of magnitude and the releasing factor reduced by two orders of magnitude. Therefore, the exposure dose received by workers in radioisotope production and application is lower in normal situation. However, the facts worth paying attention to are that there were many events and accidents which happened in the radioisotope applications, especially at the irradiation facilities. The probability of fatal accident was as high as 10^–3 per irradiator year. In order to improve the radiation safety situation, it is imperative to conduct the safety assessment for irradiation facilities, to enhance management of the radioactive wastes and spent sources and to establish the experience feedback system.     

Combined effect of γ-irradiation and bacterial-fermented dextrose on microbiological quality of refrigerated pork sausages

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a concentrated fermented dextrose (FD), a natural antimicrobial product, combined with low dose γ-irradiation (1.5 kGy) on the microbiological quality of fresh pork sausages. Fresh pork sausages containing the FD (0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) were prepared in a meat pilot plant and were irradiated using a UC-15A irradiator equipped with a ⁶⁰Cobalt source. The γ-irradiation treatment alone was able to reduce the initial psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria by more than 2 log CFU/g and kept the lactobacillus population under the detection limit (100 CFU/g). Results also showed that the FD alone was able to extend the shelf life of the sausages from 5 days up to 13 days. At day 13, the FD or irradiation alone showed 2 log CFU/g less mesophilic bacteria than the control. After combining FD and irradiation another reduction of the microbial count of 1 log CFU/g was observed. When combining the irradiation treatment with the FD results it showed a reduced growth rate of the psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria compared to both treatments alone. This study demonstrated that FD with low dose gamma irradiation act in synergy to reduce the multiplication of the total bacterial flora in fresh sausages.     

Sodium titaniumsilicate as ion exchanger: synthesis, characterization and application in separation of 90Y from 90Sr

A new inorganic material, sodium titaniumsilicate has been synthesized, and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic tools. The thermal and radiation stability of the compound was checked by TGA technique and a ??-irradiating chamber with a total dose rate of 5?kGy/h. The compound is highly stable towards thermal, chemical and total radiation dose of 64?kGy. The study of the exchange capacity of the material towards different alkali and alkaline earth metal ions showed that the sorption capacities of the alkali metal ions were greater than those of alkaline earth metal ions. The crystalline state of this new inorganic material is very useful as an inorganic ion exchanger to have the carrier free short-lived ??-active daughter product ⁹⁰Y from the long-lived ⁹⁰Sr of the radioactive equilibrium mixture. The absorbed daughter was recovered by using 1.0% EDTA solutions at pH 7.0 as eluting agent. The features and trends in elution are encouraging to apply this material as an exchanger in radionuclide generator system.     

Influence of dose on particle size of colloidal silver nanoparticles synthesized by gamma radiation

Colloidal silver nanoparticles were synthesized by γ-irradiation-induced reduction method of an aqueous solution containing silver nitrate as a precursor in various concentrations between 7.40×10^?4 and 1.84×10^?3 M, polyvinyl pyrrolidone for capping colloidal nanoparticles, isopropanol as radical scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and deionised water as a solvent. The irradiations were carried out in a ⁶⁰Co γ source chamber at doses up to 70 kGy. The optical absorption spectra were measured using UV–vis spectrophotometer and used to study the particle distribution and electronic structure of silver nanoparticles. As the radiation dose increases from 10 to 70 kGy, the absorption intensity increases with increasing dose. The absorption peak λ_max blue shifted from 410 to 403 nm correspond to the increase of absorption conduction electron energy from 3.02 to 3.08 eV, indicating the particle size decreases with increasing dose. The particle size was determined by photon cross correlation spectroscopy and the results showed that the particle diameter decreases exponentially with the increase of dose. The transmission electron microscopy images were taken at doses of 20 and 60 kGy and the results confirmed that as the dose increases the diameter of colloidal silver nanoparticle decreases and the particle distribution increases.     

多孔氧化铜空心微球的一步法制备及其光催化性能

采用一步法成功制备出多孔氧化铜空心微球,用SEM、XRD和FTIR对制得的样品进行了表征。研究发现,碳源、反应温度、反应时间、CuSO4浓度等实验条件在多孔微球的制备过程中起着重要作用。在实验结果的基础上,提出了多孔氧化铜空心微球的形成机理。制备的多孔氧化铜空心微球的比表面积为409 m2.g-1,平均孔径为3.15 nm,总孔体积为0.256 cm3.g-1,这种空心微球具有量子尺寸效应并对罗丹明B有较高的光催化性能。     

Sensory evaluation by gamma radiation effect on protein allergen of laying hen eggs

Although considered the most complete food and nutritionally shown to be part of a healthy diet, the egg is the source of many eating disorders, especially for infants. Irradiation has been used in studies not only as a means of microbiological control, but also on its structural action in the substances molecules and has been used to reduce the allergenic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensory effects of Co⁶⁰ gamma radiation on proteins, enabling the acceptability of allergy food for genetically intolerant people. Eggs commercial fresh and freeze-dried and subjected to gamma irradiation by Co⁶⁰ source at doses 0 (control), 10 kGy; 20 kGy and 30 kGy and rates of doses of 19.4 kGy/h and 31.8 kGy/h. Acceptability test was used by the hedonic scale, since it is necessary to know the “affective status” of consumers for the product, implying a preference, i.e. the most preferred samples are the most accepted and vice versa. The samples were presented as the habit of consumption (cooked) to a group of 41 adults panelists of both gender, aged from 21 to 40 years, and served under complete block design balanced with respect to the order of presentation. The evaluated attributes was flavor, appearance and overall acceptability. In general, for boiled eggs and freeze-dried, it was observed that the control sample was the most acceptable, followed by the sample irradiated with 10 kGy in both dose rates. In addition, panelists presented in testimony that they found interesting changes due to irradiation; also said they would not buy the product because of the marked change in appearance and smell, which at one point he ended up in disgust and detract from sales of the product, but they would buy irradiated with 10 kGy in both dose rate and dose of 20 kGy at a dose rate of 19.4 kGy/h.     

Brevion: the new small-scale industrial gamma irradiator

The economical processing of low-volume products has been a challenge to the gamma industry since inception, influencing customers to send their products to contractors or choose alternative technologies. With the introduction of the Brevion irradiator (patent pending), economical gamma processing of low annual volume product lines is now possible. This innovative design is specifically targeted at plants processing product volumes of up to 20,000 m³/yr. Brevion provides good cobalt efficiency and good dose uniformity, thus processing these volumes efficiently and economically. The Brevion facility has the distinct advantage of a low capital cost, compared to medium-sized automatic tote plants, while maintaining similar performance. Lead-time for the construction phase is also considerably shorter, resulting in significantly lower start-up costs. Companies with low-volume product lines can now achieve the control provided by in-house processing, and eliminate transportation time and costs associated with shipping products off-site.     

Validation of an HPLC Method for the Determination of Valdecoxib and its Degradation Product: a Mixture of α- and β-n-Lactosyl Sulfonamide Anomers

An HPLC method has been developed for the separation of valdecoxib and a degradation product consisting of α and β-N-lactosyl sulfonamide, i.e. α and β anomers (SC-77852). Best results were achieved with a Chromolith Performance RP-18e column (100 mm × 4.6 mm), macropore size 2 μm, mesopore size 13 nm, with an eluent of methanol:water containing a 1% solution of TEA (36:64 v/v), pH 7.4 (adjusted with 85% orthophosphoric acid), at 22 °C. Detection was at 220 nm. The method was validated for its selectivity, linearity, precision (repeatability) and robustness. Quantitation and detection limits were determined for both valdecoxib and SC-77852. Method robustness was further evaluated by performing 2³ full factorial design experiments. The final step, optimisation of the variables, was performed using response surface design. The validated method was used for assay of valdecoxib and SC-77852 in Bextra^® film-coated tablets.     

Transuranium elements and fission products in technological channels of unit No. 2 of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

A gamma-spectrometric and radiochemical analysis was carried out of a material (Zr-2.5% Nb alloy) of technological channels (TC) of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) power unit No. 2 RBMK-1000 reactor, being under the beginning stage of decommissioning. Activities of ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239+240Pu, ²⁴¹Am and ²⁴⁴Cm were determined. It was established that the main source of the revealed actinides and fission products was an impurity of natural thorium and uranium in TC source material on the level of several tenths of ppm. Impurity analysis of TC source material was performed by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fission product and transuranium element activities measured were compared with the results of prognostic calculations performed with the help of the NAAPRO code.     

Heat-insulating material on the basis of silica-containing wastes formed in crude ore recovery in Kola Peninsula

The possibility was demonstrated for obtaining a heat-insulating material from silica-containing product formed in acid treatment of nepheline produced at the Open Joint Stock Company Apatit. Granular porous material based on silica fume was prepared. The heat conductivity of the bulk material was 0.075?C0.08 W m^?1 deg^?1.     

Low energy electron beam irradiator using sprayed double walled carbon nanotubes

We fabricated a prototype of an e-beam irradiator which is low energy and diode type by using sprayed double walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs). The diode type e-beam irradiator consisted of a grounded e-beam window which was made of thin Havar foil and a negatively charged cathode where carbon nanotubes were sprayed on titanium coated aluminum rod. Synthesized DWCNTs which were purified through the chemical processes and then mixed with ethanol were sprayed several hundred times on the surface area of 2×300 mm². A phosphor screen located on the e-beam window and a CCD camera was used to observe the emitted electron beams directly from the cathode to the air with an increase of the voltage. The measured e-beam current was 1.5 mA at −95 kV.     

Intrinsic dosimetry of glass containers: a potential interrogation tool for nuclear forensics and waste management

Intrinsic dosimetry is the method of measuring total absorbed dose received by the walls of a container holding radioactive material. By considering the total absorbed dose received by a container in tandem with the physical characteristics of the radioactive material housed within that container, this method has the potential to provide enhanced pathway information regarding the history of the container and its radioactive contents. We report the latest in a series of experiments designed to validate and demonstrate this newly developed tool. Thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry was used to measure dose effects on raw stock borosilicate container glass up to 70 days after gamma ray, X-ray, beta particle or ultraviolet irradiations at doses from 0.15 to 20 Gy. Two main peaks were identified in the TL glow curve when irradiated with ⁶⁰Co, a relatively unstable peak around 120 °C and a more stable peak around 225 °C. Signal strength of both peaks decayed with time. The minimum measurable dose using this technique is 0.15 Gy, which is roughly equivalent to a 24 h irradiation at 1 cm from a 50 ng ⁶⁰Co source. As a result of fading, this dose would be detectable for approximately 1 year post-irradiation. In a more detailed analysis, the TL glow curves were separated into five peaks centered near 120, 160, 225, 300, and 340 °C. Differences in TL glow curve shape and intensity were observed for the glasses from different geographical origins. These differences can be explained by changes in the intensities of the five peaks. This suggests that mechanisms controlling radiation induced defect formation from gamma, beta, X-ray, and UV sources may be similar.     

The influence of oxygen on the radiolytical products of cellulose

Cotton cellulose was irradiated under oxygen or nitrogen atmosphere with⁶⁰Co irradiator in the dose range 0-130 kGy. The following compounds were found: acetaldehyde, acetone, arabinose, desoxysaccharides, formaldehyde, formic acid, glucuronic and gluconic acids, glucose, malonaldehyde, oxalic acid and xylose. No changes were observed in qualitative composition of radiolytical products formed in oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. On the other hand the presence of oxygen increased the yields of all radiolytical products, particularly of formic acid, malonaldehyde and other carboxyl groups. A mechanism of formaldehyde formation is discussed.